Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase- 7（MMP- 7） and c- myc protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma（OSCC）. Methods Immunohistochemical EliVisionTM method was
used to detect the expression of MMP- 7 and c- myc in 54 cases which contain 49 oral squamous cell carcinoma and 5 normal oral mucosa. Results 1）The positive expression rates of MMP- 7 and c- myc in oral squamous cell
carcinoma were respectively 83.7% and 77.6%. 2）The expression of MMP - 7 was closely correlated with TNM stage, clinical grade, and lymph nodes metastasis of OSCC（P<0.05）. 3）There were significant differences of the c- myc expression in different pathologic grade as well as there were whether lymph node metastasis or not（P <0.05）. 4）The expression of MMP - 7 and c - myc in oral squamous cell carcinoma were positively correlated（P <0.05）.
Conclusion Both MMP- 7 and c - myc express highly in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and have a synergistic effect on the occurrence and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma.